Sole attaching machine



March 1950 P. w. SENFLEBEN SGLE ATTACHING MACHINE 7 SheetsSheet 1 Filed March 17, 194'? [nus-n for Paul IM Scn fleben By hzlsxfttornez P. W. SENFLEBEN SOLE ATTACHING MACHINE March 28, 1950 Filed March 1'7, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 [111/622 for Pau! h/Gcn rleben By his flzfor'nay March 28, 1950 w, sENFLEBEN 2,501,789

SOLE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Even for Paul h/Jen flsben By his Al torney March 28, 1950 P. w. SENFLEBEN SOLE ATTACHING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 17, 1947 Pay! W Senf/oben By his Afzarney March 28, 1950 P w S N L B N 2,501,789

SOLE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1947 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 28, 1950 P. w. SENFLEBEN sou: ATTACHING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 17, 1947 fnven for P221] h/Senfleben By his Attor'n ey March 28, 1950 p w, SENFLEBEN 2,501,789

SOLE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed March 1'7. 194? 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 [121/622 for Paul WJcn/Zsben By his/irzor'ncy Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SOLE ATTACHING MACHINE Application March 17, 1947, Serial No. 735,168

25 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for attaching soles to shoe bottoms and more particularly to the cement attachment of soles to the bottoms of welt shoes.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved machine having provision for activating previously-applied cement on a sole and shoe bottom and then pressing the shoe parts together. For activating the cement on the sole and shoe they are supported in spaced relation and in register with each other and a heat activator is moved into position between them to soften the cement after which the activator is moved out of the way and the sole and shoe are pressed together. The sole is supported by a pad box provided with sole positioning gages. In accordance with one feature of the invention, gages arranged to contact opposite side edges of a sole and the toe end of the sole are provided to determine the widthwise and lengthwise position of the sole thereon, the gages being actuated in a manner to position soles of different lengths in a predetermined location on the pad, there being means for adjusting the side gages independently of the toe gage to accommodate soles of difl'erent widths. The toe gage includes gage members which cooperate with the side gages to determine the angular position of the sole on the pad.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention the gages associated with the pad box are arranged to position soles of different sizes on the pad with a reference point within the sole at a predetermined position on the pad. there being means for supporting a shoe above the sole on the pad and in register with it so that after the activation of the cement on the sole and shoe the supporting means therefor may be moved to press the sole against the shoe bottom. By thus positioning the sole it will be in the most desirable position on the pad regardless of its length and the accurate registration of the shoe therewith is facilitated.

Inasmuch as the present machine is particularly adapted for attachment of soles to welt shoes, the supporting means for the shoe. in accordance with a further feature of the invention, includes a welt holddown having a portion engageable in the welt crease of the shoe around the forepart, the welt holddown being adjustable to accommodate shoes of different sizes and to register them accurately with the soles on the pad box. The welt holddown engages the welt around the forepart of the shoe rearwardly to welt support are made adjustable widthwise of the shoe in accordance with the size of the shoe to be operated upon. Inasmuch as the lengthwise position of the shoe is determined by the position of the welt support. that portion which engages the toe end of the shoe must be moved lengthwise of the pad box for different shoe sizes. The welt support is flexible, being illustrated as formed of a plurality of welt-engaging members yieldingly held in assembled relation but capable of relative movements to vary the contour of the shoe-engaging portion. During the movements of the ends of the welt support widthwise of the shoe one end of the welt support is also moved lengthwise of the shoe thereby determining the lengthwise position of the shoe with respect to the sole on the pad box. In accordance with a still further feature of the invention these adjustments of the welt support are all made simultaneously by a single actuating member, there being means also for individually moving each end of the welt support to adjust it for different widths of shoes.

The above and other features of the invention, including various details of construction and novel combinations of parts will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one form of machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation on a larger scale of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a section on the line IIa-IIa of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a still larger scale of the gage mechanism by which the outsole is 10- gated in a predetermined position on the pad Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the gage mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 3:

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the pad box with the heating member. by which the cement on the attaching faces of the sole and shoe is activated, positioned thereabove;

Fig. 6a is a detail view of the mounting of the heating member;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of one of the shoe supports showing a shoe carried thereby;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the shoe support of Fig. 'l with the top plate removed, and

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the mechanism for adjusiiing the welt-engaging part of the shoe suppor the ball line at each side and the ends of the it The invention is illustrated as embodied in a two-station pressing machine (Fig. 1) of the type shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,549,243, granted August 11, 1925, on an application of E. E. Winkley. The machine includes a base III on which are bolted two standards I2 each having two pillars l4 (only the front ones of which are illustrated herein). From each pillar rises a rod I6 and at the upper end of each pair of rods, associated with each end of the machine, is a jack III vertically adjustable on the rods by means of a screw or other equivalent device 20. Pad boxes 22 are pivoted at 24 in sliding frames 25 on the rods I6 for vertical movement along the rods to move toward and from shoes supported by the jacks l8.

Each sliding frame 28 is moved vertically through a mechanism which comprises an upper toggle link 28 and a lower toggle link 30 pivoted to each other at 32, the upper link being pivoted at 34 to the sliding frame 26 and the lower link being pivoted at its lower end by a pin 36 to the end of a lever 38 pivoted at 40 to a plate 4| which is adjustably supported upon adjustable studs 42 at the front of the machine. The toggle links 30 are connected by a link 44 which is arranged to be moved by mechanism indicated generally by the reference character 46 either to the right or left upon each depression of a treadle 48. Thus upon each depression of the treadle one set of toggle links is straightened and the other set is broken whereby one of the pad boxes moves upwardly to force the sole carried thereby into engagement with the shoe bottom and the other pad box descends to permit removal from the machine of a shoe to which a sole has been attached. Provision is made for providing a spring yield in the mechanism for straightening the toggle links thereby to accommodate soles of varying thicknesses. For a more complete description of the operating mechanism by which the pad boxes are moved vertically along the rods I5 reference may be made to the Winkley patent mentioned above.

The pad boxes 22 on which the outsoles are positioned prior to the pressing operation, and which carry the soles into engagement with the shoe bottom, may be of any suitable construction, those illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 being of the type shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,063,041, granted December 8, 1936, on an application of L. G. Knowles. Associated with each pad box are gages by which the position of the outsole relatively to the supporting surface of the pad box is accurately determined. The gages are so arranged as to position outsoles of different sizes in the same positions on the pad box with regard to the ball line of the sole. In other words, regardless of the size of the sole the center of the ball line will always be in the same position on the pad box.

For thus locating the outsole on the pad box side gages 5|) (Fig. 3) and a toe gage 52 are provided. The toe gage includes a central gage member 54 and side gage members 56. The gage members 56 cooperate with the gage member 54 and the side gages ill to determine the angular position of the sole on the pad box. For mounting the gages and the positioning means therefor on the pad box, a plate 58 is secured to the marginal portion of the toe end of the pad box. This plate is slotted at 60 (Fig. 4) at opposite sides of the pad box to receive slides 62 to which the side gages 50 are pivoted. A torsion spring III acts between the slide 62 and the gage 50 to maintain Oil it in contact with the top of the pad box. The upper surfaces of the gages 50 are provided with sharp inwardly projecting lips II arranged to engage and to penetrate the edge faces of the sole slightly thereby to hold the sole in engagement with the top of the pad box. Each of the slides 62 is provided with a dovetail slot 64 to receive a bar I56. The bars 65 are provided with upwardly extending pins 12 which enter cam slots I4 formed in plates I6. Each of the plates I5 is secured to one end of a sli e I8 guided for movement lengthwise of the par box in a housing secured by a bracket 82 to the adjacent portion of the plate 58. When the slide 18 is moved lengthwise of the pad box the pins 12 are caused to move laterally of the pad box so that the bars 56 and slides 62 which, as will be explained, are connected for unitary movement will move laterally of the pad box moving the gages 50 therewith. As shown in Fig. 3 the cam slots 14 in the plates 16 are inclined in opposite directions so that the gages will move toward or away from each other upon movements of the slides 18 lengthwise of the pad box by mechanism described below.

Journaled in the forward ends of the housings 80 is a shaft 84 carrying pinions 86 which are in engagement with rack bars 88 (Fig. 4) formed in the adjacent ends of the slides I8. The shaft 84 is provided with a thumb head 90 by which the shaft may be turned thereby causing simultaneous movement of the slides I8 lengthwise of the pad box and movement of the gages 5|) toward or away from each other. Also carried by the shaft 84 is a sleeve 92 carrying a pinion 94 which is arranged, as will be explained, to cause adjustment of the gage 52 lengthwise of the pad box. Integral with the sleeve 92 is a flange 96 positioned adjacent to a collar 98 held by a set screw I00 on the shaft 84 for turning movement therewith. The flange 9B is secured to the collar 98 by a screw I02. The collar 98 and with it the sleeve 92 may be adjusted relatively to the shaft 84 and held in adjusted position by the set screw I00. Thus the pinion 94 is held fast on the shaft 84 in any one of a plurality of positions for a purpose which will appear as the description proceeds.

Secured to the plate 58 is a bracket I04 which extends beyond the toe end of the pad box and has a slideway to receive a slide I06 the under surface of which is provided with rack teeth I08 (Fig. 5) engageable with the pinion 94. Secured to the top of the slide I06 is a thin plate I II) to which is secured the gage member 54. Thus it will be seen that upon rotation of the shaft 84 to move the gages 50 laterally of the pad box the gage member 54 will simultaneously be moved lengthwise of the pad box. Pivoted on studs H2 carried by the gage member 54 are laterally extending arms H4, H5 which terminate in the gage members 56. The arm H6 has a recess I I8 to receive a spherical extension I20 of the arm II4, so that the arms are interconnected for equal and opposite movements. Pins I22 projecting upwardly from the gage members 55 are acted upon by a spring I24 the central portion of which is fastened to the underside of the gage member 54. This spring acts to move the gage members 56 inwardly toward each other but when a. sole is presented between them they will be forced apart by the sole until the toe end contacts the gage member 54. This gage member (Fig. 5) is provided with a lip 1I similar to the lips on the gages 50.

In positioning a sole on the pad box the shaft 6 isiirstturnedbythehead llinadirectionto move the gage II forwardly oi the pad box and to move the gages ll outwardly thereof sufllciently topermit placing an outsole O on the pad. The sole will be placed by the operator in the approximate position it is to occupy in the sole-attaching operation whereupon the operator will turn the shaft 86 in a direction to move the gages 66 toward each other and to move the gage 62 toward the toe end of the sole. The shaft II will be thus moved until the sole is contacted and properly positioned by the three gages whereupon further movement oi the gages by the shaft is prevented. The inclination of the cam slots II is such that the movements oi the toe gage and the side gages will be in the correct proportions to locate the sole with the center of the ball line in a predetermined position on the pad box regardless of the length 01' the sole. The gage members 60 in cooperation with the gage member 84 and the side gases Ill position the sole in the proper angular position on the pad box.

For diilerent widths of soles having the same length. adjustment or the side gages must be made with respect to the toe gage in order that the sales will be correctly positioned lengthwise or the pad box. Threaded into the outer ends of the bars 66 are screws I26 which carry col- Ian; I 26 receivable in slots I36 near the outer ends of the slides 62. The screws I26 are provided with thumb heads I82 to facilitate their rotation. When one oi the screws is rotated. the bar 66 will be held against movement by the pin I2 contacting the sides of the slot I4 and consequently the slide 6'! by which the gage II is carried will move relatively to the bar 66 thereby varying the position oi the gage with respect tdthe pin 12. Should it be necessary for any reason to adjust the position oi the toe gage it relatively to the machine the screw I60 is loosened and sleeve 62 turned relatively to the shaft 6 until the gage I! is in the desired position whereupon the collar 98 is again secured to the shaft II by the screw I06.

The shoe to which the sole is to be attached is held in elevated position above and in register with the sole so that a cement-activating member may be positioned between the sole and the shoe to activate the cement on the attaching laces thereof, after which the activating member is moved out or the way to permit the sole to be pressed against the shoe bottom. The jack I8 (Fig. l) at each station the machine by which the shoe is supported comprises a lorepart support I" and a heel support I36. The iorepart support includes a toe pad in (Fig. '7) and a welt holddown II which also serves prior to the sole-attaching operation to support the shoe above and in register with the sole. The toe pad I86 is secured to the lower end of a rod I62 forming a depending extension or a post I which is mounted for horizontal adjustment on acrosshead I46 (Fig. 2) carried by the rods I6. A setscrew I clamps the post in the proper position of adiustment on the crosshead which remains flxed during the normal operation of the machine.

Blidable on the red I 62 is a supporting block liIl (Figs. 2 and 7) extending outwardly from opposite sides of which are pivot pins I62. Supported on these pins are bearing members I 64 to the under sides oi which is secured a supporting plate I56 which in turn carries a support I66 tor the welt holddown. Provision is made for controlling the relative heights of tbewelt support Ill and the toe pad I" in accommodate shoes 0! diilerent styles. For this purpose a bracket III is secured to the lower end '01 the post I and carriesan abutment screw I6! (Fig. 2) which bears against the top of the supporting block I66. A spring I64 (Fig. 7) interposed between the toe pad and the lower side oi the supporting block holds the block against the lower end of the screw I62. By turning the screw the position of the supporting block I66 along the rod I42 may be varied thus adjusting the relative heightwise positions of the welt holddown and the toe pad.

The welt holddown I40 may consist of a plurality oi concavo-convex cylindrically curved plates which are held in nested relation by a cable passing through them and springs which yieldingly hold the plates in contact with one another. The lower ends or the plates are so shaped that they will enter the welt crease of the shoe S as shown in Fig. '7. For a complete description 01' the construction of the welt holddown reference may be made to Letters Patent oi the United States, No. 2,444,969. granted July 13, 1948, in the name 01 C. K. Woodman. The welt holddown is so carried by the support I66 that its position relatively thereto may be adjusted in accordance with the size oi the shoe to be operated upon in such a manner that the shoe will be supported in register with the outsole 0 on the pad box. To accomplish this the lateral positions of the ends of the welt support must be adjusted in a manner corresponding to the lateral adjustments of the gages ill (Fig. 3) to compensate for changes in width which occur in different sizes oi shoes. Furthermore in order to position the shoe lengthwise in the correct location one end oi the welt support will be moved lengthwise to vary the wrap 01 the welt holddown around the forepart of the shoe. The means by which the welt holddown is supported and adjusted will now be described.

One end of the welt holddown is supported for adjustment laterally oi the pad by a slide I66 (Fig. '1) dovetailed to the support I58. The holddown is provided with an ear I66 through which upwardly passes a headed pin I'iIi which also passes through the slide I66, the support its being recessed at I12 to accommodate the upper end of the pin which is held by a cotter pin I13 thereby to maintain the parts in assembled relation. Located above the welt holddown is a generally U-shaped rubber block I'll which occupies the space between the top of the holddown and the plate I66 and provides a yielding backing for the welt holddown. The block I" is slotted at I16 (Fig. 8) to permit change of its shape in accordance with adjustments of the welt holddown. To one end of the block I" (Fig. 7) is secured an ear I18 through which passes the pin IIll so that the adjacent ends of the welt holddown and the rubber block will move together in unison upon movement of the slide I66 laterally oi the pad box.

Fitted into the bottom of the slide I66 is a bar I16 having an upwardly extending flange received in a groove In in the head of an adjusting screw I82. This screw is threaded into the slide I66 and serves to connect the slide and the bar I16 together for unitary movement and to permit adjustment 01' these members with respect to each other. The purpose of the bar In will appear as the description proceeds.

The other end oi the welt holddown is mounted ior movement laterally of the pad box and lonto move the slide bar I92 lengthwise of the pad gitudinaliy thereof. For this purpose (Fig. 7) box and with it the adjacent end of the welt it is connected by a pin I84 passing through an holddown. thereby to control the position or the ear I86 on the holddown and through a plate toe end or the shoe carried by the holddown I88, the pin being held in place by a cotter pin relatively to the pad box. For this purpose a I89. The plate I88 is in turn secured by a screw link 238 (Figs. 8 and 9) is pivoted to the support I90 to one end of a slide bar I92 (Fig. 8) mov- I58 b a screw 240 and this link curves around able lengthwise of the pad box. A slide I94 movthe toe end of the support I50. Intermediate able laterally of the pad box has a depending its ends the link has a slotted portion 242 through finger I96 which bears against the adjacent porin which passes the pin 232 whereby the link 238 tlon or the welt holddown to move it laterally will be turned about the pivot 240 upon moveof the pad box, the adjacent end of the slide bar ment of the handle 220. At its end remote from I92 being capable of similar movement. Like the the pivot 240 the link 238 has a slotted portion slide I66 the slide I94 is provided with a bar 244 to which is pivoted a link 246 by a screw 248. I98 connected by a screw 200 to the slide for 5 The link 246 is connected at its other end to adjustment relatively thereto. The adjacent end the slide bar I92 so that upon movement of the of the rubber block I14 is secured to the adjacent link about the pivot 240 the slide bar I92 will portion of the slide bar I92. be moved lengthwise of the pad box. The slot To maintain the welt holddown in the desired 244 and screw 248 permit an adjustment of the shape a pair of curved plates 202, 204 (Figs. '1, 2" link 246 with respect to the adjacent end of the 8 and 9] are provided, these plates being pivoted lever 230 so that the lengthwise position of the together at their forward ends by a pin 206, their slide bar I92 for any position of the adjusting other ends having cam slots 208 through which lever 2I6 may be varied. pass studs 2l0 threaded into the bars I18, I98. The heel end of the shoe is carried by the sup- The plates 202, 204 are also provided with cam port I36 which includes a pin 250 (Figs. 2 and 2a) slots 2I2 through which pass studs 2I4 threaded engageable with the hole in the heel end of the into the bottom of the support I58. The arlast. This pin depends from a plate 252 carried rangement is such that as the pm 206 connecting by a holder 254 which is in turn carried for vertithe plates 202, 204 is adjusted lengthwise of the cal adjustment by a supporting block 256 slidpad box by means to be described, the studs 214 ably mounted on the crosshead I415. The supby their cooperation with the cam slots 2I2 cause porting block 256 has a pair of inclined guidethe opposite ends of the plates to move toward ways 258 formed in opposite sides to receive or away from each other. By this movement flanges 260 (Fig. 2d) at the upper end of the and because of their connection by the studs holder 254. The lower end of the block 256 is 2H) and bars I18, I98 with the slides I66, I94, provided with teetl 262 arranged for engagethese slides will be moved laterally of the pad ment with teeth formed in the adjacent surface box to determine the spacing between th nds of the holder 254. The heightwise dimension of of the holddown. the flanges 260 is somewhat less than that of the Adjustment of the plates 202, 204 and the welt guideways 258 so that a slight vertical movement holddown with the rubber block I14 is effected 40 between the holder and the supporting block 255 by a lever 2I6 pivoted at one end on a pin 2|B for any position of the holder lengthwise of the within the support I58. This lever is curved block is permitted whereupon the cooperating around the toe end of the support and at its teeth of the holder and block may be separated other end is provided with a handle 220 by which and the holder moved lengthwise of the block. it may be rocked about the pivot pin 2I8. The 4:, The holder is normally held with its teeth in enhandle carries a detent 222 urged by a spring gagement with the teeth 262 of the supporting 224 into engagement with a series of teeth of block by springs 264 (Fig. 2a) acting through pins a segment 226 (Figs. 2 and 8) on the support 265 in vertical bores in the flanges 260. These I58. The handle is cut away at 223 to expose pins are held in engagement with the bottoms of the tooth on the detent 222 and suitable indicia so the guideways by the springs 264 the upper ends 221 are provided on the segment 226 to enable of which bear against plugs 263 threaded in the the operator to move the handle 220 into the upper ends of the bores. proper position for the size of the shoe to be From the above it will be seen that if the holder operated upon. A knob 228 secured to the de- 254 is moved downwardly against the action of tent is provided to enable the operator to retract the springs 266 to separate the teeth on the holder the detent against the action of the spring 224 254 and the block 256, the holder may be moved to permit adjustment of the lever 2I6. lengthwise of the block thereby to vary its height- An intermediate portion of the lever H6 is wise position relatively thereto. After the holder slotted at 230 and through this slot passes a pin has been properly adjusted in accordance with 232 connected to a slide 234 movable in a guide the heel height of the shoe to which the sole is 235 formed in the support I58. The inner end to be attached, the springs 264. acting through of which receives the pivot pin 206 connecting the pins 266, will raise the holder into locking enthe plates 202, 204. The slide 234 is actually gagement with the teeth 262 of the block. For formed of two parts similar to the slide I66 and moving the holder lengthwise of the block an adbar I18 of Fig. '1, the parts being connected by 6 justing handle 210 is provided. This handle is a screw 236 thereby to permit adjustment of the mounted on a shaft 212 journaled in the supportdistance between the pin 232 and the pivot pin ing block, and to the shaft is connected an arm 206. It will be seen that as the lever 2I6 is 214 which is in turn connected by a link 216 to turned about the pin 2IB the slide 234 will move the holder 254. A pointer 216 carried by the shaft lengthwise of the pad box causing the adjacent 7 212 cooperates with indicia 280 on the block 256 ends of the plates 202, 204 to move lengthwise to assist the operator in correctly positioning the and the other ends to move toward or away from holder relatively to the supporting block. each other thus eiiecting a change in the dis- For activating the cement on the attaching surtance between the ends of the welt holddown. faces of the sole and shoe, an activator or heater The movement of the lever 2|6 is also utilized 282 (Figs. 2 and 6) is carried by one of the posts atoinaa It for swlngingmovement into and out of operative position above the pad box. This activator is in the form of a manifold in the to and bottom faces of which are provided slits 294 for the emission of hot air onto the adjacent surfaces of the sole and shoe bottom. Within the manifold is mounted an electrical heating unit 299 for heating the air before it passes from the slits 294. pipe 299 conducts the air into the manifold and this air may be preheated in any suitable manner so that it will be at a sufllclently high temperature when it leaves the manifold to soften the adhesive on the sole and shoe bottom. The manifold is provided with a handle 299 by which it may be swung about the post l9.

As illustrated most clearly in Fig. 6a the post i6 is provided with a collar 292 to which is pivoted a bell crank lever 294 one arm of which is in the form of a latch 296. This latch cooperates with a plate 299 secured to a sleeve 399 journaled on the post l6 and being formed at the end of an arm 392 (Fig. 6) secured to the activator 292. A spring 394 acts to hold the latch 296 in position to engage the lower end of the plate 299 when the activator is swung into operative position above the pad box thereby locking it in this position. At the conclusion of the activating period the bell crank lever 294 is moved against the force of the spring 994 to free the latch 296 from the plate 298 whereupon the activator is free to be swung out from between the sole and shoe bottom. To free the latch, the lower end of the arm 294 has pivoted to it a horizontal bar 396 extending to the front of the machine and being guided by a bracket 399 (Figs. 2 and 6). pushing bar 996 rearwardly, the arm 294 swings the latch 299 downwardly to permit swinging movement of the activator into inoperative position.

In the operation of the machine preliminary adjustments will be made for the width of the shoe to which the soles are to be attached. This is effected by turning the screws I26 (Fig. 3) to position the gages 69 laterally of the pad box in accordance with the width of shoe to be operated upon. After this adjustment has been made the gages associated with the pad box are ready to receive soles of any size in that width. The thumb head 99 is first turned to retract the side and toe gages and a "sole placed on the pad box between them. The head 99 is now turned in the opposite direction until all the gages contact the periphery of the sole which is thereby properly positioned on the pad box.

The handle 229 (Fig. 8) is moved into the proper position according to the size of shoe to be operated upon. the screws 299 having first been adjusted in like manner to the screws I32 (Fig. 3) according to the width of shoe. The movement of the handle 229 varies the positions of the ends of the welt holddown I49 (Fig. '7) laterally of the pad box and one end of the welt holddown lengthwise of the pad box. The forepart is inserted as shown in Fig. '1 in the welt holddown which thus determines the lengthwise and lateral positions of the shoe with respect to the pad boxafter which the heel end of the last is placed over the last pin 259 (Fig. 2), the heel support being properly adjusted first. if necessary. If the handle 229 has been set in the proper position for the size of the shoe the shoe will be registered accurately with the outsole. The activator is now moved into position between the outsole and shoe bottom whereupon the hot air passing from the slits in the manifold heats and 10 softens the thermoplastic adhesive on the attaching surfaces of the sole and shoe. After the activation is complete the activator is swung out of the way, the machine is treadled, and the pad box is moved upwardly to carry the sole into engagement with the bottom of the shoe against which it is pressed with a heavy pressure. The same operation is now repeated at the other station of the machine after which the first shoe with the sole attached thereto may be removed I for succeeding shoemaking operations.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a sole-supporting pad, gages arranged for engagement with opposite side edges of a sole to determine its position widthwise of the pad, a gage arranged for engagement with the toe end of the sole to determine its position lengthwise of the pad, means for simultaneously adjusting said gages to position soles of different lengths in a predetermined location on said pad, and means for adjusting said side gages independently of said toe gage to accommodate soles of different widths.

2. In a machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a sole-supporting pad, gages arranged for engagement with opposite side edges of a sole to determine its position widthwise of the pad, a. gage arranged for engagement with the toe end of the sole to determine its position lengthwise of the pad, and means for simultaneously adjusting said gages to position soles of different lengths in a predetermined location on said pad, said toe gage including gage members cooperating with said side gages for determining the angular position of the sole on the pad.

3. In a machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a. sole-supporting pad, gages arranged for engagement with opposite side edges of a. sole to determine its position widthwise of the pad, 9. gage arranged for engagement with the toe end of the sole to determine its position lengthwise of the pad, means for simultaneously adjusting said gages to position soles of different lengths in a predetermined location on said pad, said toe gage including a pair of gage members engageable with opposite sides of the toe end of the sole, spring means urging said gage members toward each other, and means connecting said gage members for equal and opposite movements.

4. In a machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a sole supporting pad, gages arranged for engagement with opposite edges of a sole near the ball line, means mounting said gages for sliding movement laterally of the pad, a gage arranged for engagement with the toe end of the sole, means mounting said gage for sliding movement lengthwise of the pad, means interconnecting all of said gages for simultaneous movements coextensive as to time inwardly or outwardly of the pad, and means for thus moving said gases.

5. In a machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a sole-supporting pad. gages arranged for engagement with opposite edges of a sole near the ball line, means mounting said gages for sliding movement laterally oi the pad, a gage arranged for engagement with the toe end of the sole, means mounting said gage for sliding movement lengthwise of the pad, means for simultaneously moving said side gages toward or away from each other, and means operated by said last-named means for moving said toe gage 11 in a manner to position soles of different sizes in the same relative position on said pad.

6. In a machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a sole-supporting pad, gages arranged for engagement with opposite edges of a sole near the ball line, means mounting said gages for sliding movement laterally of the pad, a gage arranged for engagement with the toe end of the sole, means mounting said gage for sliding movement lengthwise of the pad, means for simultaneously moving said side gages toward or away from each other, means operated by said lastnamed means for moving said toe gage in a manner to position soles of different sizes in the same relative position on said pad, and means associated with said toe gage cooperating with said side gages for controlling the angular position of the sole on the pad.

7. In a machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a sole-supporting pad, gages arranged for engagement with opposite edges of a sole near the ball line, means mounting said gages for sliding movement laterally of the pad, a gage arranged for engagement with the toe end of the sole, means mounting said gage for sliding movement lengthwise of the pad, means for simultaneously moving said side gages toward or away from each other, means operated by said last-named means for moving said toe gage in a manner to position soles of different sizes in the same relative position on said pad, and means for adjusting said side gages relatively to said moving means.

8. In a machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a sole-supporting pad, gages arranged for engagement with opposite edges of a sole near the ball line, means mounting said gages for sliding movement laterally of the pad, a gage arranged for engagement with the toe end of the sole, means mounting said gage for sliding movement lengthwise of the pad, a shaft extending transversely of the pad forwardly of the toe end, a pinion carried by said shaft intermediate its ends, rack teeth on said toe gage engageable with said pinion, pinions carried at opposite ends of said shaft, racks extending lengthwise of the pad box at opposite sides thereof engageable with said pinions, plates carried by said racks overlying the pad adjacent to said side gages, cam slots in said plates inclined oppositely to each other, and pins connected to said side gages received by said cam slots whereby the side gages are moved toward and away from each other upon turning of said shaft and the toe gage is simultaneously moved lengthwise of the pad.

9. In a machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a sole-supporting pad, gages arranged for engagement with opposite edges of a sole near the ball line, means mounting said gages for sliding movement laterally of the pad, a gage arranged for engagement with the toe end of the sole, means mounting said gage for sliding movement lengthwise of the pad, a shaft extending transversely of the pad forwardly of the toe end, a pinion carried by said shaft intermediate its ends, rack teeth on said toe gage engageable with said pinion, pinions carried at opposite ends of said shaft, racks extending lengthwise of the pad box at opposite sides thereof engageable with said pinions, plates carried by said racks overlying the pad adjacent to said side gages, cam slots in said plates inclined oppositely to each other, pins connected to said side gages received by said cam slots whereby the side gages are moved toward and away from each other upon 12 turning of said shaft and the toe gage is simultaneously moved lengthwise of the pad, and means for adjusting the sole contacting portion of each of the side gages with respect to the pin associated therewith.

10. In a machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a sole-supporting pad, gages arranged for engagement with opposite edges of a sole near the ball line, means mounting said gages for sliding movement laterally of the pad, 9. gage arranged for engagement with the toe end of the sole, means mounting said gage for sliding movement lengthwise of the pad, a shaft extendin! transversely of the pad forwardly of the toe end, a pinion carried by said shaft intermediate its ends, rack teeth on said toe gage engageable with said pinion, pinions carried at opposite ends 01' said shaft, racks extending lengthwise of the pad box at opposite sides thereof engageable with said pinions, plates carried by said racks overlying the pad adjacent to said side gages, cam slots in said plates inclined oppositely to each other, pins connected to said side gages received by said cam slots whereby the side gauges are moved toward and away from each other upon turning of said shaft and the toe gage is simultaneously moved lengthwise of the pad, gage members pivoted to said toe gage and arranged to engage opposite side edges of the sole adjacent to the toe end, springs acting on said gage members for moving them toward each other, and means connecting said gage members for equal and opposite movements.

11. In combination, a sole-supporting pad, gages associated with said pad, means for operating said gases to position automatically soles of different sizes on said pad with a reference point within the sole at a predetermined position on the mid, means for supporting a shoe above and in register with the sole on the pad, and means for pressing the sole against the shoe bottom.

12. In combination, a sole-supporting pad. gages associated with said pad, means for operating said gages to position automatically soles of different sizes on the pad with a reference point within the sole at a predetermined position on the pad, means for supporting a shoe above a sole on said pad, said supporting means comprising means for positioning the shoe in a predetermined relation to the sole on the Dad, and means for moving said pad and said supporting means one with respect to the other to press the sole against the shoe bottom.

13. In a, machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms, a sole-supporting pad, means for locating a sole in a predetermined position on said pad, means for supporting a shoe in spaced relation above said pad and in register with a sole thereon, means for heating the attaching faces of the sole and shoe while the shoe is thus supported, and means for then moving the shoe-supporting pad and the sole-supporting means one with respect to the other to press the sole against the shoe bottom.

14. In combination, a sole-supporting pad, gages associated therewith, means for operating said gages to position automatically soles of different sizes on the pad with a reference point within the sole at a predetermined position on the pad. means for supporting a shoe above and in spaced relation to a sole on said pad, said supporting means comprising means for positioning the shoe in register with the sole on the pad. a heater, means mounting said heater for movement into and out of operative position between the pad and the shoe-supporting means, said heater being arranged when in operative position to heat the attaching faces of the sole and shoe bottom, and means for moving the pad and shoe-supporting means one with respect to the other after the heater is moved into inoperative position to press the sole against the shoe bottom.

15. A machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms comprising a sole-supporting pad, gages associated therewith, means for operating said gages to position automatically soles of different sizes on said pad with the center of the sole at the ball line in a predetermined position on the pad, means for supporting a shoe in register with the sole on the pad, said shoe-supporting means including a holddown engageable with the welt to sustain it against upward pressure during the sole-attaching operation, and means for moving the pad and the shoe-supporting means one with respect to the other to press the sole against the shoe bottom.

16. A machine for attaching soles to shoe bottoms comprising a sole-supporting pad, gages associated therewith for positioning soles of diflerent sizes on said pad with the center of the sole at the ball line in a predetermined position on the pad, means for supporting a shoe in register with the sole on the pad, said shoe-supporting means including a holddown engageable with the welt to sustain it against upward pressure during the sole-attaching operation, means mounting said holddown for adjustment widthwise and lengthwise of the supporting means to determine the position of the shoe with respect to the sole on the pad, and means for moving said pad and said supporting means one with respect to the other to press the sole against the shoe bottom.

1'7. In a machine for attaching soles to the bottoms of welt shoes, sole-supporting means, gage means associated therewith for locating a sole on the supporting means, means for supporting a shoe in spaced relation to a sole on the solesupporting means, means associated with said shoe supporting means for locating the shoe in register with the sole on the supporting means, said last named means including means engageable with the top face of the welt to sustain it against the sole-attaching pressure, a heater movable into and out 01' the space between the sole and shoe and arranged to heat the attaching i'aces oi. the sole and shoe when positioned between the sole and shoe, and means for causing relative movements of said supporting means after the heater has been moved out of said position for pressing the sole against the shoe bottom.

18. In a machine for attaching soles to the bottoms of welt shoes, a welt holddown arranged to support a shoe in a predetermined position in spaced relation above a sole to be attached to the shoe bottom and to sustain the welt against the sole-attaching pressure, said welt holddown comprising a flexible member having a portion engageable in the welt crease of the shoe around the forepart thereof and rearwardly to the ball line, and means mounting said holddown for ad- Justment in accordance with the size of the shoe to which a sole is to be attached.

19. In a machine for attaching soles to the bottoms oi welt shoes, a weld holddown arranged to support a shoe in a predetermined position in spaced relation above a sole to be attached to the shoe bottom and to sustain the welt against the sole-attaching pressure, said weld holddown comprising a flexible member having a portion engageable in the welt crease of the shoe around the 14 torepart thereof and rearwardly to the ball line, and means mounting the ends 0! said holddown for adjustment widthwise oi the shoe to be operated upon.

20. In a machine for attaching soles to the bottoms of welt shoes, 8. welt holddown arranged to support a shoe in a predetermined position in spaced relation above a sole to be attached to the shoe bottom and to sustain the welt against the sole-attaching pressure, said welt holddown comprising a flexible member having a portion engageable in the welt crease of a shoe around the forepart and rearwardiy to the ball line at each side, meam mounting one end of said holddown for adjustment widthwise of the shoe to be operated upon, and means mounting the other end of said holddown for adjustment widthwise and lengthwise oi the shoe.

21. In a machine for attaching soles to the bottoms or welt shoes, 2. welt holddown arranged to support a shoe a in a predetermined position in spaced relation above a sole to be attached to the shoe bottom and to sustain the welt against the sole-attaching pressure, said welt holddown comprising a flexible member having a portion engageable in the welt crease 01' a shoe around the forepart and rearwardly to the bail line at each side, means mounting one end of said holddown for adjustment widthwise oi the shoe to be operated upon, means mounting the other end of said holddown for adjustment widthwise and lengthwise of the shoe, and single means for effecting all of said adjustments.

22. In a machine for attaching soles to the bottoms of welt shoes, 3. welt holddown comprising a plurality of flexibly-connected welt-engaging members each of which has a portion arranged to engage the welt crease of a shoe around the iorepart, means supporting said members for relative heightwise movements, a pair of curved plates engaging the outer periphery of said holddown, means pivoting said plates together at the toe end, and means for adjusting said plates to vary the contour oi the holddown in accordance with the size oi the shoe to be operated upon.

23. In a machine for attaching soles to the bottoms of welt shoes, a welt holddown comprisin a plurality of flexibly-connected welt-engaging members each of which has a portion arranged to engage the welt crease 01' a shoe around the iorepart, a pair of curved plates engaging the outer periphery of said holddown, means pivoting said plates together at the toe end, means for moving said pivoting means lengthwise ot the shoe to be supported by the holddown, and means causing the outer ends of said plates to move toward or away from each other in response to such movement of the pivoting means thereby to adjust the contour of the holddown in accordance with the size of the shoe to be operated upon.

24. In a machine for attaching soles to the bottoms of welt shoes, a welt holddown comprising a plurality of flexibly-connected welt-engaging members each of which has a portion arranged to engage the welt crease of a shoe around the forepart, a pair of curved plates engaging the outer periphery 01' said holddown, means pivoting said plates together at the toe end, means for moving said pivoting means lengthwise of the shoe to be supported by the holddown, means causing the outer ends or said plates to move toward or away from each other in response to such movement of the pivoting means thereby to adjust the contour of the holddown in accordance with the size or the shoe to be operated upon,

15 and means operated by said pivot moving means for moving one end of said welt holddown lengthwise of the shoe carried thereby.

25. In a machine for attaching soles to the bottoms of welt shoes. 9. welt holddown comprising a plurality of flexibly-connected welt-engaging members each of which has a. portion arranged to engage the welt crease of a. shoe around i the forepart, a pair of curved plates engaging the outer periphery of said holddown, means pivoting said plates together at the toe end. means for moving said pivoting means lengthwise of the shoe to be supported by the hoiddown, means causing the outer ends of said plates to move toward or away from each other in response to such movement of the pivoting means thereby to adjust the contour of the holddown in accordance with the size of the shoe to be operated upon, and

means tor moving the ends of said welt holddown relatively to said plates.

PAUL W. SENFLEBEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,142,557 Engel June 8, 1915 2,051,236 Yunker et al. Aug. 18, 1936 2,131,370 Card Sept. 27, 1938 2,158,196 Pepin May 16, 1939 2,159,031 Lancaster May 23, 1939 2,342,725 Crepeau Feb. 29, 1944 2,356,756 Finn Aug. 29, 1944 

